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'A contract is about more than salary' - The Cyclists' Alliance 2026 rider survey finds financial insecurity, health and safety issues among the main concerns of the women's peloton

A newly published athlete survey from The Cyclists' Alliance details deep financial anxieties and welfare concerns across the women's professional peloton. According to the findings, three quarters of participating Continental racers receive zero compensation from their squads, while a significant majority point to monetary strain as their primary motivation for contemplating early retirement.

Beyond fiscal instability, competitors highlighted widespread worries regarding road safety, inadequate healthcare access, and toxic team atmospheres, prompting the labour organization to petition the governing body for stronger contractual protections and mandatory wellbeing monitoring.

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